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Public reception Friday will honor longtime Benton employee Walden |
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Wednesday, 08 July 2009 |
A reception honoring a longtime city employee who recently retired is scheduled Friday afternoon.
John P. Walden, director of finance/treasurer, will be honored at the event to be held in the lobby and council chambers of Benton Municipal Complex, 114 S. East St.
Walden gave the city 37 years of dedicated service, Benton Mayor Rick Holland noted.
He began his employment with the city in 1971, then left briefly for another career. He returned not long afterward and remained a city employment until leaving recently for retirement purposes.
The retirement event is scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m. Community residents are invited to attend.
“John Walden was another one of those dedicated employees that chose the city of Benton as his career,” Holland said. “He cared very much for the city, and I always enjoyed working with him. He was a very professional man who always made me feel confident that our city was on firm financial ground.
“I hope he enjoys his retirement,” Holland said, “and I would urge everyone to come out and celebrate with him at Friday’s reception.”
Walden worked for the city at two different times. He was initially hired in 1971, remaining until January 1977. He left for other employment, but retired in August 1978, remaining until his effective retirement date on May 1 of this year.
He served under several mayors, but started his employment when Benton operated with a city manager form of government. During part of his years, the utilities department was governed by the Board of Commissioners, which later was dissolved.
After the the city returned to the mayor-council form of government, Walden continued his employment.
In addition to the current mayor, Walden served under George Wagner, Lynn Moore, Mitch McDonald, Jim Presnall and Rodney Larsen, Kathy Kirk, the city’s human resources director, noted that Walden “has carried two hats all through the years, working for the city and the Board of Commissioners and then more recently the Public Utilities Commission.”
Walden’s family includes his wife, Ann; a daughter Johna Goodwin of England; a son, James P. Walden and wife Katie of Little Rock; and two grandchildren, Lance and Sarah Goodwin.
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